---- Chapter 4: Fate? ----
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Pegasus chuckled loudly, a smile crossing his face.
"Oh, time for answers, is it? I didn't know it was so late!"
Stepping forward, Jounouchi cracked his knuckles menacingly. "Tell us, or I'll beat you to a bloody pulp."
Again, Pegasus laughed off the remark. With a snap of his fingers, Shadi entered the room.
"I suppose it is time that you learned of our.... exploits."
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
"Hello, welcome to.... Oh! Duelists! Welcome!!"
Standing behind the counter, Sugoroku Mutou pulled out a small deck of cards, placing them on the table. "A pre-made deck, containing Exodia. Only 30,000 yen. It's a steal!"
Two sweatdrops from Masaharu and Kaori later, Sugoroku was seated in a nearby chair as the two duelists explained the situation.
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Shocked silence prevailed for many moments after the revelation was announced of Shadi and Pegasus' actions. Suddenly, Yugi's fist clenched tightly as, with his other hand, he nailed Pegasus with a hard punch. Jounouchi restrained him, but only by using all his strength.
"Y-You.... How.... dare you...." Yugi sputtered, his breath coming in ragged spurts. "Calm down, Yugi," said Jounouchi in a firm voice. "Don't give these creeps any emotion...."
Pegasus slowly rose back to his feet, a solemn look on his face. Disregarding his normally flamboyant voice, he spoke calmly and cooly. "There was no choice, Yugi. We need the greatest duelist in all the worlds to guard the Shadow Games.... You know what danger they pose."
Stepping forward, Shadi stood between Pegasus and Yugi, holding his arms out to his sides.
"If you must hit someone, hit me. I am the one who approached Pegasus about this.... He rejected the plan originally, but he eventually saw the necessity in it. Forgive me.... but there is no other way."
Still breathing heavily, Yugi broke free from Jounouchi's grip. Turning to his friend with tears in his eyes, he beat his best friend's chest harshly with his fist.
"It.... It isn't right, Jounouchi! Atem.... he.... He wouldn't want this! He'd rather die a thousand deaths than make another person suffer.... It...."
Wrapping his arms around his friend, Jounouchi held him tightly. "There, there...." he said soothingly. "Things'll turn out okay, right? They always do."
"Oh, but things aren't alright," said Shadi. "The Shadow Games have begun to stir. Soon.... our fate will be determined."
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
"How awful!" Sugoroku exclaimed. "To be ripped from your own world, I.... I can't even imagine your pain...."
Not saying a word, Masaharu nodded solemnly. As the old man rose to his feet, he patted the boy on the back.
"I'll get some beds ready for you two.... Best to stay at a friend's house than at a hotel or somesuch."
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Pegasus walked up to Yugi, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Yugi.... What Shadi means is, that we need a guardian soon - within two months at the most. If we don't have a guardian by then.... The worlds will collapse upon themselves from the stress of the dark magic we used to bring those duelists here."
Both Yugi and Jounouchi opened their mouths silently, leaving them hanging open in shock. Stunned silence followed, as Shadi stared down at the ground solemnly.
".... We had no choice. Rather a quick death than a slow one to the Shadow Games. Imagine it, if you can.... Millions upon millions, forced into utter and complete darkness and eternal sorrow. Shadow Games were created to right wrongs with intense punishment thousands of years ago, but the energies released by them went wild, creating a sole dark force - Zork Necrophades. His death four years ago only brought about more instability in the Shadow Games. Any disdain you may feel.... is understandable. But please, understand that any fate is better than a death to the Shadow Games...."
Without warning, Yugi's duel disk activated, snapping forward as a dark cloud filled the room.
"Show me.... Show me the horror of the Shadow Games now, here, in a duel. Display to me your skill and honor as a duelist, and I'll accept this. No other way, Shadi.... what will you do?"
With a snap of his fingers, a duel disk appeared on Shadi's arm.
"Here's my answer.... Duel!!!"
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Pegasus chuckled loudly, a smile crossing his face.
"Oh, time for answers, is it? I didn't know it was so late!"
Stepping forward, Jounouchi cracked his knuckles menacingly. "Tell us, or I'll beat you to a bloody pulp."
Again, Pegasus laughed off the remark. With a snap of his fingers, Shadi entered the room.
"I suppose it is time that you learned of our.... exploits."
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
"Hello, welcome to.... Oh! Duelists! Welcome!!"
Standing behind the counter, Sugoroku Mutou pulled out a small deck of cards, placing them on the table. "A pre-made deck, containing Exodia. Only 30,000 yen. It's a steal!"
Two sweatdrops from Masaharu and Kaori later, Sugoroku was seated in a nearby chair as the two duelists explained the situation.
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Shocked silence prevailed for many moments after the revelation was announced of Shadi and Pegasus' actions. Suddenly, Yugi's fist clenched tightly as, with his other hand, he nailed Pegasus with a hard punch. Jounouchi restrained him, but only by using all his strength.
"Y-You.... How.... dare you...." Yugi sputtered, his breath coming in ragged spurts. "Calm down, Yugi," said Jounouchi in a firm voice. "Don't give these creeps any emotion...."
Pegasus slowly rose back to his feet, a solemn look on his face. Disregarding his normally flamboyant voice, he spoke calmly and cooly. "There was no choice, Yugi. We need the greatest duelist in all the worlds to guard the Shadow Games.... You know what danger they pose."
Stepping forward, Shadi stood between Pegasus and Yugi, holding his arms out to his sides.
"If you must hit someone, hit me. I am the one who approached Pegasus about this.... He rejected the plan originally, but he eventually saw the necessity in it. Forgive me.... but there is no other way."
Still breathing heavily, Yugi broke free from Jounouchi's grip. Turning to his friend with tears in his eyes, he beat his best friend's chest harshly with his fist.
"It.... It isn't right, Jounouchi! Atem.... he.... He wouldn't want this! He'd rather die a thousand deaths than make another person suffer.... It...."
Wrapping his arms around his friend, Jounouchi held him tightly. "There, there...." he said soothingly. "Things'll turn out okay, right? They always do."
"Oh, but things aren't alright," said Shadi. "The Shadow Games have begun to stir. Soon.... our fate will be determined."
=== Domino City - Kame Game Store ===
"How awful!" Sugoroku exclaimed. "To be ripped from your own world, I.... I can't even imagine your pain...."
Not saying a word, Masaharu nodded solemnly. As the old man rose to his feet, he patted the boy on the back.
"I'll get some beds ready for you two.... Best to stay at a friend's house than at a hotel or somesuch."
=== Duelist Kingdom - Banquet Hall ===
Pegasus walked up to Yugi, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Yugi.... What Shadi means is, that we need a guardian soon - within two months at the most. If we don't have a guardian by then.... The worlds will collapse upon themselves from the stress of the dark magic we used to bring those duelists here."
Both Yugi and Jounouchi opened their mouths silently, leaving them hanging open in shock. Stunned silence followed, as Shadi stared down at the ground solemnly.
".... We had no choice. Rather a quick death than a slow one to the Shadow Games. Imagine it, if you can.... Millions upon millions, forced into utter and complete darkness and eternal sorrow. Shadow Games were created to right wrongs with intense punishment thousands of years ago, but the energies released by them went wild, creating a sole dark force - Zork Necrophades. His death four years ago only brought about more instability in the Shadow Games. Any disdain you may feel.... is understandable. But please, understand that any fate is better than a death to the Shadow Games...."
Without warning, Yugi's duel disk activated, snapping forward as a dark cloud filled the room.
"Show me.... Show me the horror of the Shadow Games now, here, in a duel. Display to me your skill and honor as a duelist, and I'll accept this. No other way, Shadi.... what will you do?"
With a snap of his fingers, a duel disk appeared on Shadi's arm.
"Here's my answer.... Duel!!!"